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A building collapse that killed 34 construction workers and injured dozens in Western Cape province last year was “entirely preventable”, South Africa’s government says.<\/p>\n
A new report into the tragedy reveals that serious safety concerns had been raised well before the partially built five-storey apartment block collapsed in the town of George in May 2024.<\/p>\n
Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson said the collapse was the result of multiple failures including the use of substandard materials, structural cracks, and visible gaps.<\/p>\n
“There were a number of red flags that were continually raised about this project,” said a visibly angry Macpherson.<\/p>\n
Some of the defects were detected a year before the collapse. The health and safety officer even resigned in protest but work continued, the report found.<\/p>\n
“The work should have stopped,” Macpherson said.<\/p>\n
He added that these signs were a chance to turn back but instead, problems with the building were “covered up”.<\/p>\n
Workers reported feeling vibrations in the structure, and being told to cover up holes with sand and substandard concrete, the report revealed.<\/p>\n
Following what the minister described as an “emotional and painful” private meeting with survivors and families of victims, he called for criminal accountability for those found to have been negligent.<\/p>\n
A police investigation is under way but no arrests have been made.<\/p>\n
Many survivors are still facing trauma, medical bills and struggling to put food on the table, Macpherson said.<\/p>\n
Electrician Delvin Safers was pinned under the tonnes of concrete and mangled metal for 28 hours. He sent voice notes to his family believing he might die.<\/p>\n
A colleague of his was killed instantly as the concrete fell on top of them.<\/p>\n
After his rescue Mr Safers told the BBC he had noticed no warning signs, but believed that if shortcuts were taken during construction, then those responsible “should be held accountable”.<\/p>\n
He did not attend the minister’s briefing but his father Deon, who did, told the BBC that he was impressed by the report.<\/p>\n
“We want justice,” he said, adding that his son had received no compensation<\/p>\n
Another survivor of the disaster, Elelwani, tearfully told local media, that her life had changed in the last year.<\/p>\n
She lost many teeth, struggles to eat and has been the subject of bullying. She appealed for money from well wishers.<\/p>\n
Macpherson pledged to introduce regulations to improve oversight in construction and reform outdated legislation.<\/p>\n
The probe was conducted by the Council for the Built Environment and a parallel investigation by the Engineering Council of South Africa.<\/p>\n